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Recent rumors and gossip about NFLen-usJoe Thomas turns retirement presser into roast of BrownsJoe Thomas hit the podium Monday for his official retirement press conference after making the announcement last week that he was putting the game of football behind him. In typical Joe Thomas style, he interjected plenty of humor and essentially turned a portion of his presser into a roast of the Browns.But before that, Hue Jackson and general manager John Dorsey presented Thomas with a fishing rod, which hearkens back to his decision to eschew attending the draft in favor fishing. Then came the jokes. He also had a funny explanation about when he knew it was time to retire. Of course, this stems from Hue Jackson’s promise to jump into Lake Erie after the Browns went 0-16 last year, failing to better their 1-15 mark from 2016.Thomas is a sure-fire Hall of Famer. He’s one of the guys we loved watching every Sunday, and before his season-ending injury last year he had played in 167 consecutive games, never once missing a start since his rookie season.The NFL will move on without him, but it won’t be the same. 19 Mar 2018 20:10:47 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/joe_thomas_turns_retirement_presser_into_roast_of_browns/s1_12680_25984652
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/joe_thomas_turns_retirement_presser_into_roast_of_browns/s1_12680_25984652Joe Thomas turns retirement presser into roast of Brownshttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/joe_thomas_turns_retirement_presser_into_roast_of_browns/s1_12680_25984652http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/3/d3f16aa18ac5307bdf8dce77c601026b92b5dec6/top_story/GettyImages-889631218.jpgJames Franklin: Saquon Barkley had 'very average' combinePenn State head coach James Franklin had the privilege of watching Saquon Barkley develop for three years as a member of the Nittany Lions. So he, above all others, knows what Barkley is capable of doing athletically.In case you don’t remember, Barkley had professional scouts, coaches and general managers practically drooling over what he accomplished at the 2018 NFL Scouting combine (combine details here).In fact, one NFL coach wants Barkley on his team so bad he’s willing to do something rather disturbing to land the young running back.This leads us to a rather interesting quote from Franklin referencing Barkley’s combine performance in February at Lucas Oil Stadium. Now, this comment could be seen as some shade thrown by Franklin. But in fact, it’s quite the opposite. What Franklin is really saying is that Barkley is capable of doing so much more. And quite honestly, this shows up on tape. He has breakaway speed — he took a number of plays over 80 yards for touchdowns in college — and the size to power thr19 Mar 2018 20:13:29 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/james_franklin_saquon_barkley_had_39very_average_39_combine/s1_12680_25982996
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/james_franklin_saquon_barkley_had_39very_average_39_combine/s1_12680_25982996James Franklin: Saquon Barkley had 'very average' combinehttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/james_franklin_saquon_barkley_had_39very_average_39_combine/s1_12680_25982996http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/d/3dbebc5aaf1fa5bdcf49d01d79b984767a185cd4/top_story/10669830.jpgEagles, Vikings will reportedly kick off 2018 NFL seasonThe Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl LII after defeating the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship, and the NFL world won’t be waiting long to see a rematch.According to Howard Eskin of Sports Radio WIP in Philadelphia, the Eagles will host the Vikings to open the 2018 NFL season Thursday, Sep. 6, at Lincoln Financial Field.The last meeting wasn’t much of a contest, since the Eagles smashed Minnesota 38-7. However, the NFC North squad will have a renewed sense of optimism thanks to the signing of Kirk Cousins, who has significant experience against Philly.For the last three years, he served as the full-time starter in Washington. Cousins, who also started one game opposite the Eagles in 2014, is 4-3 against the franchise so far.The big question is whether Philadelphia star quarterback Carson Wentz will have recovered from his surgery to repair a torn ACL. But even if Nick Foles remains under center, the NFL season should begin with an entertaining game.19 Mar 2018 20:14:19 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/report_eagles_vikings_to_kick_off_2018_nfl_season/s1_12680_25981205
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/report_eagles_vikings_to_kick_off_2018_nfl_season/s1_12680_25981205Eagles, Vikings will reportedly kick off 2018 NFL seasonhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/report_eagles_vikings_to_kick_off_2018_nfl_season/s1_12680_25981205http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/2/729208068d3da2259926b5c8a05b80f4c6d71e64/top_story/10559051.jpgSam Bradford due huge bonuses for per-game productionIf Sam Bradford can simply stay healthy for the Arizona Cardinals, it sounds like he’ll be making a whole lot of money.Bradford’s deal with the Cardinals entitles him to up to $5 million in per-game bonuses — plus an impressive $10 million signing bonus. Bradford certainly has a good agent. Despite a spotty track record and a rather frightening injury history, the Cardinals are investing a lot in Bradford in the hope that he can hold down the position for a while. If he can stay on the field and produce at all, he’ll be compensated handsomely.19 Mar 2018 19:56:19 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/sam_bradford_due_huge_bonuses_for_per_game_production/s1_127_25983860
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/sam_bradford_due_huge_bonuses_for_per_game_production/s1_127_25983860Sam Bradford due huge bonuses for per-game productionhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/sam_bradford_due_huge_bonuses_for_per_game_production/s1_127_25983860http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/1/f146c5742594e0f16e5ca9418c6ce09c2de2f914/top_story/10710863.jpgReport: Arrest warrant issued for Jonathan Martin, who is facing five chargesLast month, former NFL offensive lineman Jonathan Martin made threats on social media to his former Harvard-Westlake High School in Southern California. He was also found by police to be in the possession of a loaded gun, a knife and an ax.Now, authorities have reportedly charged Martin with four counts of making criminal threats, and one count of possessing a loaded firearm, per TMZ Sports. Furthermore, the report states there is currently a warrant issued for Martin’s arrest.Martin originally shared a photo of a shotgun and bullets with the caption “When you’re a bully victim and a coward, your options are suicide or revenge.”It also included Martin mentioning former Dolphins teammates Richie Incognito and Mike Pouncey, who were at the center of the bullying scandal that featured Martin himself with the Dolphins back in 2013 (more on this here).He later was was being held in a mental health facility. We sincerely hope that Martin gets the help he so obviously needs.19 Mar 2018 19:54:30 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/report_arrest_warrant_issued_for_jonathan_martin_who_is_facing_five_charges/s1_12680_25986230
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/report_arrest_warrant_issued_for_jonathan_martin_who_is_facing_five_charges/s1_12680_25986230Report: Arrest warrant issued for Jonathan Martin, who is facing five chargeshttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/report_arrest_warrant_issued_for_jonathan_martin_who_is_facing_five_charges/s1_12680_25986230http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/2/f2eeda42c1e102742ee84873659cc3c0306fcbc8/top_story/USATSI_8060625.jpgRyan Shazier on NFL future: ‘I definitely feel like I’ll be back out there’Ryan Shazier has every intention of returning to play in the NFL in the wake of a traumatic spinal injury during a game late last season, saying he “definitely” expects to resume his career at some point.The Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker was making an appearance over the weekend at an event at Heinz Field honoring the team’s late owner, Dan Rooney, when he expressed his remarkably positive outlook. “I’m taking it one step at a time, but I know the Lord,” Shazier said Saturday night, via CBS Pittsburgh. “He has a plan for me, and I definitely feel like I’ll be back out there.”Shazier took time to express heartfelt gratitude for the tremendous amount of encouragement received from the Steelers organization, the team’s fans and the broader NFL community and fans.“I know a lot of people say I’m an inspiration to them, but honestly the support I’ve been getting has allowed me to just stay positive and be able to push through every day also,” Shazier said.Shazier last week shared inspirational footage of a recent 19 Mar 2018 15:43:13 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/ryan_shazier_on_nfl_future_i_definitely_feel_like_ill_be_back_out_there/s1_8061_25982534
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/ryan_shazier_on_nfl_future_i_definitely_feel_like_ill_be_back_out_there/s1_8061_25982534Ryan Shazier on NFL future: ‘I definitely feel like I’ll be back out there’http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/ryan_shazier_on_nfl_future_i_definitely_feel_like_ill_be_back_out_there/s1_8061_25982534http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/5/15cbbe3ae89632df7ac495f68ae0cda37ca25224/top_story/10384839.jpgReactions to the start of 2018 NFL free agency$.01—We’ll start close to home, which for me is Holland, Mich. That happens to be the hometown of Kirk Cousins, now the NFL’s highest-paid player. Cousins signed a three-year, $84 million contract to become the quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings. The kicker here is the details of the deal.All $84 million is fully guaranteed. No need for roster or workout bonuses. No superfluous fluff on the back end that only serves to allow agents to gloat instead of benefitting their clients.Fully guaranteed.It’s the white whale of every NFL player. That Cousins is the first to secure it on the open free agent market continues his stunning ability to game the system. He might not be a great quarterback, but there’s never been anyone better at taking advantage of the situational context of his contract status, not even Joe Flacco.Cousins will earn close to $135 million in five NFL seasons thanks to this contract on the back of consecutive franchise tag deals. He’s done so by refusing to acquiesce to the common practice of 19 Mar 2018 16:05:34 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/10_on_the_start_of_2018_nfl_free_agency/s1_8276_25982120
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/10_on_the_start_of_2018_nfl_free_agency/s1_8276_25982120Reactions to the start of 2018 NFL free agencyhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/10_on_the_start_of_2018_nfl_free_agency/s1_8276_25982120http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/0/30e54a5fd89f7ddb9fce2e81f7c4873764f200de/top_story/10587585.jpg10 biggest NFL free agent busts from the last decadeNFL free agency frenzy is in full swing, and players signed new deals left and right during the first wave. Things happened so fast, it was difficult to keep track of all of the activity.Not surprisingly some players are signing some pretty hefty contracts. Contracts that at least a few of them won’t exactly live up to. There are bound to be free agency signings that inflict some buyer’s remorse later on throughout this season.This leads us to reflect upon some of the biggest NFL free agent busts over the past decade. Remember any of these guys?2008: Jerry Porter, wide receiver, Jacksonville JaguarsAfter being selected in the second round of the 2000 draft and spending eight seasons with the Oakland Raiders, the Jaguars took a chance with Porter in 2008. This was after Porter’s last season in Oakland when he played a full 16-game slate and recorded 705 yards and six touchdowns.The Jaguars signed the then 30-year-old Porter to a six-year, $30.4 million deal. That was a huge commitment considering Porter’s age.19 Mar 2018 01:07:03 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/top_10_nfl_free_agent_busts_of_the_past_decade/s1_12680_25975256
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/top_10_nfl_free_agent_busts_of_the_past_decade/s1_12680_2597525610 biggest NFL free agent busts from the last decadehttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/top_10_nfl_free_agent_busts_of_the_past_decade/s1_12680_25975256http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/d/7d0165d2a09baf59e9a050b7a76a69a071e7bf66/top_story/9781894.jpgRaiders to trade Cordarrelle Patterson to PatriotsThe Raiders will be parting ways with Cordarrelle Patterson and sending the former All-Pro kick returner to the Patriots, Vic Tafur of The Athletic tweets. Barstool Sports first reported the deal.The AFC teams are expected to exchange late-round picks in this deal, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com confirms as such, reporting (via Twitter) the Raiders will receive a fifth-rounder and send out a sixth-round choice. Oakland previously did not possess a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft.Patterson has one more year remaining on his contract, and he’ll be changing teams for the second straight offseason. The Patriots will receive a player who has two first-team All-Pro honors to his credit, those coming during the former first-round pick’s time with the Vikings.The sixth-year wideout stands to count $3.25MM against the cap this season. He worked as an auxiliary Raiders pass-catcher and gadget player during his one season in Oakland, accumulating 430 yards from scrimmage and scoring twice 19 Mar 2018 01:06:29 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/raiders_to_trade_cordarrelle_patterson_to_patriots/s1_14819_25977431
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/raiders_to_trade_cordarrelle_patterson_to_patriots/s1_14819_25977431Raiders to trade Cordarrelle Patterson to Patriotshttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/raiders_to_trade_cordarrelle_patterson_to_patriots/s1_14819_25977431http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/7/1712af22f0033b56fc3c3bd0f563e1d684b1cd53/top_story/10389492.jpgHall of Famer Joe Montana advocates cannabis for pain relief, healingAs the NFL and NFLPA move toward potentially removing cannabis as a banned substance in the coming years, yet another high-profile former NFL star — four-time Super Bowl champion and NFL Hall of Famer Joe Montana — has come out in favor of utilizing this medicine.Montana was one of eight former NFL players interviewed by Playboy magazine on this topic.“Legalization is picking up steam on a global level and I feel like now is the time to spread information about the curing capabilities of this plant,” Montana said. “As with any medicine, increased accessibility comes with the need for education. Cannabis eased my pain. It also put me in a state of healing and relief.”Eugene Monroe was also interviewed by the magazine. As he did when he spoke with Sportsnaut about this topic, he continues to spread the message that cannabis is so much more beneficial than opiates. It’s a message that is gaining steam, especially in light of the research that shows cannabis can be extremely helpful for players dealing with concu18 Mar 2018 12:48:45 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/nfl_hall_of_famer_joe_montana_advocates_cannabis_for_pain_relief_healing/s1_12680_25975211
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/nfl_hall_of_famer_joe_montana_advocates_cannabis_for_pain_relief_healing/s1_12680_25975211Hall of Famer Joe Montana advocates cannabis for pain relief, healinghttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/nfl_hall_of_famer_joe_montana_advocates_cannabis_for_pain_relief_healing/s1_12680_25975211http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/4/74bf1ff48125c237fc2afba5f86efa44511ba2e4/top_story/10275828.jpgTen stories making headlines in NFL free agencyIt seems that NFL free agency ended before it really got going. Prior to the official start of the new league year on Wednesday, multiple high-end free agents had already agreed to sign with new teams. Meanwhile, the trade market was more active than we’ve ever seen around the league.From Kirk Cousins signing the richest contract in NFL history to Richard Sherman trading in his Seattle Seahawks colors for the red and gold of the San Francisco 49ers, a lot has already happened around the NFL.Here are the 10 stories we’ve talked about most thus far this NFL offseason.Kirk Cousins’ record deal When you hand a quarterback the first fully guaranteed multi-year contract of its kind, people are going to talk. Reactions will be both positive and negative. Hence, the Minnesota Vikings ranking fifth on the SNIPdaily Franchise Top 100 for Sunday.The deal itself pays Cousins $84 million fully guaranteed over three seasons. He can also earn millions more in incentives, including if the Pro Bowler were to earn Super Bowl M18 Mar 2018 12:22:15 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/ten_stories_making_headlines_in_nfl_free_agency/s1_14810_25975031
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/ten_stories_making_headlines_in_nfl_free_agency/s1_14810_25975031Ten stories making headlines in NFL free agencyhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/ten_stories_making_headlines_in_nfl_free_agency/s1_14810_25975031http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/6/d6cc1edd96128e377cca617ccba3b2e6636bdb18/top_story/10417250.jpg49ers unlikely to make more major FA signingsThe 49ers still have about $33M in spending money, per GM John Lynch, but as Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle writes, the team is unlikely to use that cash to make any major free agent signings. Lynch said, “We’re not all the way done yet, perhaps. We’ll use that wisely. We got the guys that we targeted that would help us best become a better football team.”Branch has taken that statement to mean that San Francisco is going to stand pat with respect to notable free agents that are still available. As Lynch said at the scouting combine, the team is not one player away from being a true title contender, so while the addition of Richard Sherman may have suggested to some that the 49ers had hopes of a deep playoff run in 2018, San Francisco is still apparently committed to its youth movement (as Branch observes, the 49ers have just five offensive or defensive players who are 30 or older).Lynch indicated that the 49ers will spend their available cash, but will use it to lock up young players who are alre18 Mar 2018 12:10:14 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/49ers_unlikely_to_make_more_major_fa_signings/s1_14819_25974920
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/49ers_unlikely_to_make_more_major_fa_signings/s1_14819_2597492049ers unlikely to make more major FA signingshttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/49ers_unlikely_to_make_more_major_fa_signings/s1_14819_25974920http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/8/080b7d366bf7ec29c7f862b6c9ee82ea186a4db5/top_story/10446154.jpgColts interested in Mike PounceyThe Colts are among the clubs with interest in free agent center Mike Pouncey, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). Pouncey hasn’t been wanting for interest since earning his release from the Dolphins earlier this week. In addition to the Colts, both the Buccaneers and Chargers are reportedly eyeing Pouncey, although Tampa Bay’s current level of intrigue is unclear given that it signed fellow interior lineman
Ryan Jensen. Los Angeles, meanwhile, is reportedly meeting with Pouncey today.If signed by the Colts, Pouncey would likely be moved to guard given the presence of former first-round pick Ryan Kelly at center. That shouldn’t be a problem for the 28-year-old Pouncey, who has earned Pro Bowl berths at both guard and center in the past.After playing in only five games in 2016, Pouncey’s play was limited by a hip injury last season. Pro Football Focus noted his lackluster performance, grading Pouncey as just the No. 27 center in the NFL. It’s possible Pouncey will require hip replac17 Mar 2018 18:31:51 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/colts_interested_in_mike_pouncey/s1_14819_25971107
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/colts_interested_in_mike_pouncey/s1_14819_25971107Colts interested in Mike Pounceyhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/colts_interested_in_mike_pouncey/s1_14819_25971107http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/e/6eb2709c6db89ea78b697e4ce5d0da218f3ec17f/top_story/10245160.jpgReport: Jets talked to Browns about first pick before moving up to No. 3The New York Jets now find themselves in prime position to land a franchise quarterback following Saturday’s trade with the Indianapolis Colts. We can debate the merits of New York yielding three second-round picks in a move up from the sixth pick to No. 3 overall all we want. Heck, this one scribe thinks the price might have been too steep. That’s fine. The deal went down, and the entire landscape of the draft itself has changed.Speaking of that, a report from Manish Mehta of The NY Daily News now indicates that New York actually had discussions with the Cleveland Browns about moving all the way up to the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.“The deal happened fast because the Jets, who also inquired about trading up with the Browns for the No. 1 overall pick, according to sources, were prepared. The groundwork set in Mobile in January gave them a good starting point in discussions after (Kirk) Cousins was no longer an option,” Mehta reported.In reality, this might have made more sense than moving up to 17 Mar 2018 18:19:37 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/report_jets_talked_to_browns_about_first_pick_before_moving_up_to_no_3/s1_12680_25971026
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/report_jets_talked_to_browns_about_first_pick_before_moving_up_to_no_3/s1_12680_25971026Report: Jets talked to Browns about first pick before moving up to No. 3http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/report_jets_talked_to_browns_about_first_pick_before_moving_up_to_no_3/s1_12680_25971026http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/1/d175b3cfb91583db653b010cd961c4ef6452729a/top_story/10509048.jpgMarshawn Lynch likely to remain with the RaidersSunday marks a key indicator about Marshawn Lynch’s status with the Oakland Raiders. Based on one report, it looks like Lynch will remain with his hometown team.NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reports that Lynch will receive a $1 million roster bonus he was due on March 18. There were some questions about whether Lynch would figure into the Raiders’ plans under Jon Gruden, and this appears to provide the answer.Lynch turns 32 in April. While he got off to a slow start last season after taking a year off of football, Beast Mode really started to get it going in November. He rushed for 891 yards on 207 carries last season, good for a 4.3 average per carry. He scored seven touchdowns.Lynch is set to earn $6 million in total in 2018. It looks like he will be paired with Doug Martin rather than replaced by the former Bucs running back.17 Mar 2018 17:20:22 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/marshawn_lynch_likely_to_remain_with_raiders_receive_roster_bonus/s1_127_25970588
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/marshawn_lynch_likely_to_remain_with_raiders_receive_roster_bonus/s1_127_25970588Marshawn Lynch likely to remain with the Raidershttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/marshawn_lynch_likely_to_remain_with_raiders_receive_roster_bonus/s1_127_25970588http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/0/000c9a95255cc2c0be6c253566cd2ced784edce8/top_story/10471302.jpg